Three Spanish tourists were shot dead yesterday, together with an Afghan citizen, when they were visiting the city of Bamian, in central Afghanistan, according to the spokesman of the Ministry of the Interior, Abdul Mateen Qani, who added that in the same attack “four foreigners and three Afghans were injured”. At least one of the injured would be Spanish. Qani did not specify whether the attack was carried out by one or more attackers, but explained that there were four suspects in custody.
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the news last night. “Three Spaniards have died and at least one has been injured in a shooting in Afghanistan, according to the information that is reaching the ministry in contact with the delegation of the European Union in the area. The ministry is working, through the consular emergency unit, to clarify the circumstances, attend to those affected in whatever they need and contact the relatives”, said a press release from the Spanish Government.
The president of the central government, Pedro Sánchez, reacted immediately and, through X, was “shocked by the news of the murder of Spanish tourists in Afghanistan”. Sánchez assured that he was following the situation “on time” and that the “consular emergency unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working to offer all the necessary assistance”. The Spanish president communicated all his “affection” to the “family and friends” of the dead.
Diplomats from different countries were last night trying to confirm the identities of the wounded in Bamian hospitals. According to AFP, hospital authorities have confirmed that among the injured there could be, in addition to Spaniards, citizens of Norway, Australia and Lithuania.
Qani strongly condemned the attack through X, expressed condolences to the families of the victims on behalf of the Taliban government and promised that those responsible will be punished. The attack took place around half past six in the afternoon (local time), when at least one gunman opened fire on a group of tourists leaving a bazaar. Last night no group had claimed the action yet.
Yesterday’s attack is the first attack on foreign tourists in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021 and comes at a time when authorities are trying to attract foreign tourists to boost the economy and improve the international image of the Government. The Taliban recently inaugurated a tourism and hospitality institute to improve the country’s tourism infrastructure. In addition, the Government has sought to reassure tourism agencies that Afghanistan is safe for visitors, despite the ongoing threat from an Islamic State-affiliated group in the region, which has carried out sporadic attacks – although, so far, not against foreign tourists – with the aim of destabilizing the Taliban government.
The province of Bamian is mainly inhabited by members of the Hazara community, Shiites, who are periodically the target of attacks – generally with explosives – by the Islamic State, who are Sunni. In addition, Bamian is one of the main tourist destinations in the country and is where the giant Buddha figures were that were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, during their first period in power.
